Improvement in mowing-machines



UNITEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI S. CLARK, 0F BETHEL, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,864, dated August8, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI S. CLARK, of Bethel, in the county of Fairfieldand State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure lrepresents a plan, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation of amowin g-machine constructed in accordance width my invention, the latterview being taken as indicated by the line w in Fig. l, Fig. 3, asectional plan, in part, on an enlarged. scale, in illustration of thedevices or certain of them, by which the sickle is operated; Fig. 4, asectional side view, in part, in illustration of a crutehed pendent baror di vided brace for transferring the resistance, con.- sequent on theeut, to the frame of the machine at or near the axle. Fig. 5 is aninterior view of a ratchet-box arrangement for engaging and liberatingthe running-wheels with and from the main axle accordingly as it isrequired to operate or stop the sickle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In this improved mower the pitman, which serves to drive the sickle, isarranged to occupy a position in direction of the draft, and on one sideofthe machine, in combination with a novel mechanical movement orcombination of devices, including a sliding sleeve with connecting-rodattached, a lever operated by the latter on or about a fulerum, theaxial line of which lies to one side of and at right angles to the lineof the sleeves travel, and a link pivoted to said lever for operatingthe sickle in a straight line or path at right angles tothe travel ofthe sleeve and to the fulcrum of the lever, whereby a clear space isleft for the vehicle to pass over obstacles, and the sickle may beoperated either in a vertical position or in any intermediate onebetween that and its regular horizontal position, which facilitates theclearing of trees or other obstacles in the path ofthe sickle. Theinvention likewise comprises a crutched pendent bar or divided brace forreceiving the strain as caused by the draft through the resistance ofthe sickle, and transferring it to the main. frame at or near the axle.The invention also includes a novel combination of pawls with horns, andlifting and locking-rings,

as applied to a box or 'boxes inclosing ratchets fast to the .main axlefor facilitating the stopping and starting of the sickle withoutarresting the motion of the machine.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawing, A represents the main frame of themachine, and B B its running wheels. C. is the main axle, and I) acounter'shaft or axle receiving its motion by gears c b, and a clutch,E, from the main axle, and transferring the same by bevel-gears c and dto the grooved driving-cam F, by which the sickle G is operated. Thewheels B B are litted loose on the main axle, but are made to rotate incommon therewith when required to provide for arresting the motion ofthesickle when running the machine to and from the field by means ofratchets e fast on said axle, and spring-borne pawls ffitted withinboxes g, (fast to the wheels,) and provided with horns h h which projectthrough slots in the periphery of the boxes, and which have rings i i attheir outer ends to allow of lifting the pawls out of gear with theratchets and of locking them by simply turning the rings i i over orunder against the periphery of the box when it is required to hold thewheels B B out of driving connection with their axle, as clearlyrepresented for the one pawl at the left hand in Fig. 5. 0n merelyreleasing the rings v1 t' from such grip or hold the pawls readily flyinto gear with their ratchets, which is theposition shown for the pawlat the right hand in Fig. 5. The grooved cam F is arranged in proximityto the main axle with its axis at right angles to that of the latter. Itserves to give motion to a lever, H, which has its fulcrum, as at 7s, ona crutched pendent bar or divided brace, I, that is arranged so that itthrows the strain or weight consequent on the draft as produced by thecutter, which the lever H, through a pitman, J, serves to operate on themachine near the main axle. This produces increased steadiness, and, bythe arrangement of the pitman J on one side of the machine and intransverse relation with the sickle G, lateral shake or twist of themachine consequent on the reciprocating action of the sickle is reduced,the racking of the frame avoided, and a clear space afforded forescaping obstacles in the path of the vehicle between the wheels, alsodoing away with the raising of the sickle in order to clear the pitmanof obstacles in its path, as where the pitman is arranged in line withthe sickle.

Pivoted to the erutched pendent bar I, as at l, is an arm, K, thatsupports the inner end of the sickle and guard or finger-bar by a Wheel,m, at the outer endof a Wrist, L, attached to and project-ing in frontof the arm. Said erutched pendent bar, arm, and Wrist are all,preferably, made hollow. M is a sleeve arranged to reciprocate on andalong the Wrist L by means of the pitman J. This sleeve M is formed withan annular groove, n, to establish. gear by means of a strap or clip, N,with a rod or bar, o, the joint-pin p of which is formed by a projectionfrom the strap Working in and along a slot, q, in the frame of thefinger-bar and sickle, which are free to rise and fall on or around theWrist L as a center of motion. The opposite or outer end of the bar o ispivoted, as at r, to a lever, P, which is connected by a link, Q, as ats, to the sickle Gr. The lever l works on a fulcrum, t, in the rear. Bythe arrangement of those several parts the sickle G receives a straightreciprocating travel at right angles to the motion of the sleeve M, freefrom all lateral strain or binding, and provision is made fo1COn)'imingthe motion of the sickle not only When/the latter is down but also whenit is thrown up or back, and in any intermediate position, so that, whenraising the sickle to clear a tree, or for any other purpose, there isno necessity to stop its motion. R is the drivers seat, mounted bysprings on a box or cover, S, Which serves to inclose the drivingmechanism, and which is removable to allow of access to said mechanism.Such accessibility is greatly facilitated byhaving the drivers seatattached to the box or cover, as n1 taking off the one both devices areremoved simultaneously and a clear open space is exposed. T is afoot-rest, pivoted as at u, and connected with the clutch E by means ofa rod, fv, bell-crank w, and spring y, so that when pressure is appliedto said rest, as by the driver when on his seat through the naturalposition of his feet, the clutch E is thrown into and held in drivinggear; but on the driver removing his feet from the rest T, or in case ofbeing thrown from his seat then the spring y serves to throw out theclutch and the sickle ceases to operate. The foot-rest T may be lockedor fastened by a catch when it is desired to hold the driving mechanismin gear independently of any action of the drivers feet.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

l. The arrangement, relatively with the sickle G and lever H, of thepitman J and reciprocating sleeve M for operation of the sickle,substantially as speeiiied.

2. The spring-borne pawlsff, arranged Within the boxes 'g and providedwith horns h and rings i, for operation substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The crutched pendent bar I, in combination with the lever H, pitmanJ, and the axle C of the main frame, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, With the sickle Gr, of the the reciprocating sleeveM, the strap or clip N, the connecting-rod O, the lever P, and the linkQ, essentially as herein set forth.

LEVI S. CLARK.

Witnesses:

Giro. M. LYON, G. A. PEGK.

